Dim Sum for Everyone

Grace Lin (2001), 28 pages

Audience: toddlers

Format: picture book

Who wants some dim sum? Everyone will after reading Lin’s book Dim Sum for Everyone. Join a family with three little girls as they go out for a tantalizing meal at a Chinese dim sum restaurant. A series of little dishes are served from carts straight to the table. Diners get to point and choose each dish; mouthwatering sweet pork buns, fried shrimp, turnip cakes, sweet tofu, and egg tarts are paraded before the reader. Ma-Ma, Ba-Ba, and all three daughters have their favorites. So everyone chooses a little dish to share “we eat a little bit of everything; everyone eats a little bit of everything.” Whether you eat out frequently or are going for the first time - it’s never too early to teach kids about new cuisines. In addition, Lin includes some historical background on dim sum’s evolution, translation, and customs. Lin’s illustrations are bold and patterned; primary colors dance across the page appealing to young children. Traditional Chinese ingredients (ginger, daikon, bok choy, taro, etc.) and other dim sum dishes (dumplings, stuffed eggplant, rice noodles) even decorate the endpapers … yummy! Parents might want to use this book in a preliminary discussion of food; for example go to the grocery store and point out new vegetables or ingredients. Expand your palette and your child’s vocabulary at the same time!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Bee-Bim Bop! By Linda Sue Park or Yum Yum Dim Sum by Amy Wilson Sanger

Other books by this author: Fortune Cookie Fortunes, Kite Flying, Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Lissy’s Friends, and Olvina Flies, and Robert’s Snowflakes

Wombat Wallkabout

Carol Diggory Shields (2009), 32 pages

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Follow six of the cutest wombats on a walkabout. Deep in the Australian outback they start out on their journey as “six woolly wombats, walking one by one, passed a golden wattle blooming in the sun. The last little wombat, whose name was Clive, stopped to smell the flowers … then there were five.” Oops, now the group has gone from six to five! But his disappearance is not just due to distraction, there happens to be a hungry-eyed dingo tagging along. One by one, the group slowly dwindles down to just two, suddenly … the remaining pair Jen and Jack “thought it awfully quiet, so they looked back. No little wombats? That’s not good! They jumped off the track and hid in the wood.” What should they do? As the dingo approaches the hidden duo soon realize where their friends went … Dingo’s got their mates in a big swag bag. They think of brilliant plan to trick the dingo – and what do you know? Their friends survive … now “Six woolly wombats, good as new. Walked along together, two by two.” Shield’s text is rhythmic without being over the top (seamlessly integrating assonance, alliteration, and rhymes) into each verse. Creating a narrative rich with imagery and substance – she also includes a glossary of Australian terminology such as native wildlife (dingo, wombat, kookaburra) and flora (wattle tree, eucalyptus). Blackall’s illustrations are enchanting; she manages to create adorable characters with personality yet plays homage to the Australian landscape beautifully. This book is ideal for teaching counting, numbers, phonological awareness, and increase vocabulary. A great read-aloud book for kids and adults!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French, Koala Lou by Mem Fox, or Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles

Other books by this author: The Bugliest Bug, Food Fight!, and Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp

Other books by this illustrator: Ruby's Wish, Pecan Pie Baby, Edwin Speaks Up, and Big Red Lollipop

The Quiet Book

Deborah Underwood (2010), 32 pages

Illustrated by Renata Liwska

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

What a delight! The concept is simple, but so effective ... as the author explains we experience many types of quiet throughout the day. Taking on a variety of moods this book slowly progresses from the lively, "first one awake quiet" to the subdued; towards the end bedtime-type quiet is described as "story time quiet, tucking in Teddy quiet, bedtime kiss quiet, … sound asleep quiet." This succession makes this book a soothing read for nighttime. The text is composed of simple lines that are easy to read, yet so descriptive ... for instance, "jelly side down quiet" (you can almost imagine the room's silence as the bread hits the floor) or "coloring in the lines quiet" (the peaceful contentment children experience as they color in pictures). There is even a “quietness” found in Liwska’s illustrations, which are soft and subtle perfectly reflective of the subject matter. Underwood’s observations combine the traditional with the unexpected – making this book an excellent conservation starter for parents and educators. For instance, ask children to think up other quiet situations or use this book in conjunction with Underwood’s The Loud Book! and spark a discussion of opposites.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli, The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle, or The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

Other books by this author: A Balloon for Isabel, Pirate Mom, and The Loud Book!

Other books by this illustrator: Red Wagon and Little Panda

Such a Silly Baby!

Steffanie and Richard Lorig (2007), 30 pages

Illustrated by Amanda Shepherd

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

“But, there was a hitch … my baby got switched” … no matter where they seem to go (whether the zoo, the circus, or a farm) mother and baby always seem to wind up in the same silly situation! Go on this wild adventure as baby gets swapped numerous times with a chimpanzee, a dancing bear, a lazy sow, etc. Yet, baby manages to adjust just fine to his new surroundings. In fact, when mother comes back for him … he’s full of funny surprises (like swinging from vines and tight-rope walking) … proving that life is never dull when you’re a silly baby! Brimming with humor and energy – the author and illustrator personify “silly” on multiple levels (with a silly storyline, pictures, sounds, etc.) managing to make everything in this book outrageously funny! The text’s rhymes and repetition make this a great read a-loud book for parents; children will squeal with delight when they hear this story alongside Shepherd’s brightly colored whimsical illustrations.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Hello Baby! by Mem Fox, Silly Sally by Audrey Wood, or Just One Day by Laura Leuck

Other books by this illustrator: Fiona Loves the Night, Who Loves Me? and Rules of the Wild: An Unruly Book of Manners

Do You Want to be My Friend?

Eric Carle (1971), 30 pages

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

Meet one hopeful Mouse looking for friendship, –who along the way … finds it! Carle has once again created a wonderful children’s book for all ages. Presented in a nearly wordless format, this book prompts the reader with just one question “Do you want to be my friend?” As Little Mouse adventures out he runs into a variety of animals along the way including an especially long snake. Carle’s classic collage-images are vivid against the minimal white background, simple though they may seem, his design placement is intentional for young children trying to build reading readiness skills, “the ingenious placement of the pictures shows the child the correct direction in which to turn the page” establishing that the story is read from left to right. This important skill (understanding how books work and how they are read) is known as print awareness; a fundamental early literacy skill. This story also, builds another great reading readiness skill known as narrative (storytelling) ability. A practically wordless book, readers are encouraged to create and narrate the illustrations. Carle includes tips on storytelling and narrating this story in a note to parents and teachers in the book’s forward. Adorable and educational – the best of both worlds!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Hunter and the Animals by Tomie dePaola, The Story of a Little Mouse Trapped in a Book by Monique Felix or The Colors by Monique Felix

Other books by this author: From Head to Toe, My Very First Book of Colors, The Grouchy Ladybug, and Pancakes, Pancakes!

The Carrot Seed

By Ruth Krauss (1945), 32 pages

Illustrated by Crockett Jonhson

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Continuously in print since 1945, this classic tale is one both children and parents will love. Who knew a simple act of planting a seed could be so courageous … well, one little boy proves just that! Even though everyone kept insisting “it won’t come up; it won’t come up.” The little boy never gives up and patiently tends to his carrot seed with conviction and confidence. Is he rewarded in the end? Why, yes! He manages to produce a carrot worthy of any state prize and even though others doubted him – our brave boy proves that it was possible all along. Krauss and Johnson use simple words and pictures to convey poise and self-assurance. This timeless story has wonderful morals threefold for children –to trust in themselves, practice patience and care, and reap the rewards of hard work!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: The Ant and the Grasshopper by Amy Lowry Poole, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert, Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole, or Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Other books by this author: A Hole is to Dig, A Very Special House, Bears, The Backwards Day, The Bundle Book, I Can Fly, The Growing Story, and The Happy Day

Other books by this illustrator: Harold and the Purple Crayon

White on Black

Tana Hoban (1993), 12 pages

Audience: babies

Format: board book

White on Black is the perfect first book for babies. Known for her bold graphic designs, photographer Hoban created a series of baby books featuring high contrasts of black and white images. This sparse contrast makes the images easier for infants to see (especially during the first few months as the baby’s eyesight develops). Tapping into a baby’s surroundings – Hoban showcased simple, yet familiar objects (examples include a bottle, duck, boat, buttons, necklace, flower, apple, and banana), which appeal to babies and become fitting when she/he starts associating shapes and images with words. A great beginner book for any infant! Hoban’s collection of board and picture books are a wonderful series of children’s books – known for their high contrast motifs; these books teach kids about shapes, household objects, and opposites, many books also feature color photography. Board books hold up well for young children and are often easier for them to hold; have a baby hold the book and turn its pages (this action builds a fundamental skill known as print awareness). It's never too early to start enjoying books!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Look Look! by Peter Linenthal, I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy, and My Animals (Black & White) by Zavier Deneus

Other books by this author: A, B, See!, Black & White, Is It Larger? Is It Smaller?, So Many Circles, So Many Squares, Exactly the Opposite, and Shapes, Shapes, Shapes